17
The surf breaks against jagged rocks that jut out of the ocean close to shore. Presumably nearby, a water tribe blade has been stuck in the ground in a forested area. Aang picks up the blade, with Sokka coming up behind him. "Hey look! A sword made out of a whale's tooth." Sokka yanks it out of Aang's hand. "Gimmie that!" Sokka walks forward, examining the blade. He stands still momentarily as a flashback hits him. It's daytime at the South Pole. In the distance, many Water Tribe boats are being loaded with supplies. Sokka stands in front of the boats. He holds his boomerang, a pained look of anticipated loss on his face. Sokka maps out of the flashback about as quickly as he got sucked in. "This is a water tribe weapon! See if you can find anything else!" He yells over his shoulder to Aang as he starts searching for himself. Katara comes into the clearing, asking, "Did someone lose something?" Sokka mumbled, "Just our minds." And Aang said happily, "No! We found something!" popping his head out of the bush he was searching. Sokka, in another bushy area, knocks some leaves off of a broken arrow on the ground. He picks it up and inspects it. "It's burned." He throws it away and walks over to a tree with burn marks and starts rubbing the bark on the tree. "There was a battle. Water tribe warriors ambushed a group of firebenders." He looks down at the ground and begins to walk downhill as he interprets the signs left in the earth. "The firebenders fought back, but the warriors drove them down this hill…" He runs down the hill, the others in tow. They soon come to the beach. Aang looked up and down the sands of the beach. "So then what happened?" Sokka looked downtrodden for a second. "I don't know. The trail ends here." Katara practically jumps, pointing off in the distance. "Wait! Look!"
Wang was kicking Fragwa out of his chair in the brig so that he could start his shift. "Get out…" Wang said. "No, my chair!" Fragwa said with a growl. "You already have two black eyes still from Shang punching you in the face and giving you a bloody nose. Would you like to add a sore face and bum because I will throw you out of the chair and kick you in the bum after I get you out of the chair." Wang said getting ready to do what he said he would. Yhu Wy and Jee were making a bet. Jee was betting against Wang to do it. Yhu Wy was betting for Wang to do it. Loser of the bet would have to give all the money they have to the winner. "I would love to see you try." Fragwa said laughing, not believing that Wang would do it. "Alright." Wang said he grabbed the back of Fragwa's collar and threw him out of the chair where his face hit the steel floor. Before Fragwa could even get up Wang went and kicked him in the bum. "Damn-it." Jee said grumbling. "Yes! More Money for me on my birthday!" Yhu Wy said doing a happy dance. Fragwa grumbled as he left the brig to go to his bunk. Wang sighed as he then went to unlock the cells. "Get out of here! I really don't want to see either of you two down here again. And Happy Birthday Yhu Wy." Wang said hoping to not see either of them back in the cells any time soon. Yhu Wy wasted no time running out happily wanting to see what was for breakfast on this wonderful birthday morning. Jee was planning on ruining Yhu Wy's day now since he just took all his money. LaMai was up and eating breakfast with Zuko and Iroh in the private dining quarters. Yhu Wy walked into the private dining quarters and took a bowl, two scoops of jook from the pot in the middle of the table and grabbed some strawberries and an apple. "This IS living! Happy Birthday to me…" He started humming 'happy birthday' to himself, smiling. "What do you think you are doing taking our food?!" Zuko asked since NO ONE allowed Yhu Wy to come in there with them. "There's plenty. We could share." LaMai said shyly. "That is not the point Zuko is getting at, dear. He is saying normally the crew must have permission to even come in here if they are not helping TenZou bring in the food." Iroh explained.
Sokka looks at where Katara pointed and sees a beached water tribe boat. "It's one of ours! It's one of ours!" He shouts out happily. They all run to the boat and look up. Katara asks, "Is this… Dad's boat?" Sokka rubbed the ship's prow thoughtfully and smiled. "No, but it's from his fleet. Dad was here."
After breakfast, everyone dispersed to do their duties, and those who didn't have any this morning played Pai Sho with Iroh supervising, but not playing. He was drinking a tea that he heated in the pot in his hands. He said it was 'white dragon tea' and had to be prepared specially so that it could make a tea 'so delicious it's heartbreaking' as Iroh said. Iroh says, "I am not bored of this game, but my legs are bored of this chair. I need to stretch my legs. He walks to the kitchen and grabs an extra two teacups, planning on drinking with Zuko and LaMai. Then he heads to their quarters to invite them to drink with him. After setting the tea at the private dining quarters table, Iroh pours Zuko and LaMai some tea. "Ahh! See, Prince Zuko, a moment of quiet is good for your mental well being." Iroh said at peace with his eyes closed. "I've missed quiet this past week. Jee and Yhu Wy are NOT the best roomies." Zuko chuckled at this and almost made tea go up his nose. Almost. As Zuko raises the cup to drink again, a shock causes it to splash the tea all over his face. He wipes it away and gets up from the table, making angry noises.
On the foredeck a young, dark haired woman has appeared on deck riding a massive and hideous monster. Members of Zuko's crew scatter as the monster climbs the railing and onto the deck. "Get back! We're after a stowaway." The strange lady says. Zuko narrows his eyes and angrily growls out, "There are no stowaways on my ship!"
The monster, a shirshu, proceeds to rip out a chunk of deck plating and hurls it. It sticks its head into the gaping hole, and able to see smells, the stowaway's odor shows up as a smoky green trail. Nearby a barrel falls over and a man crawls out, whimpering. The man crawls out onto the foredeck where the shirshu quickly whips the back of his neck with its tongue. He falls instantly onto the deck, conscious but paralyzed, with Iroh, LaMai and Zuko looking on in the background. LaMai looked shocked. "He's paralyzed?" The woman picks up the stowaway but the scruff of his tunic. "Only temporarily. The toxins will wear off in about an hour. But by then he'll be in jail and I'll have my money." Zuko looked just as shocked as LaMai for a second before blurting out, "But how did you find him on my ship?" The woman pet her monster as she got back in the saddle. "My shirshu can smell a rat a continent away." Iroh admired her for a moment. "Well, I'm impressed." She cracks her whip and the shirshu bolts off the ship and down the dock. "Very impressed." He said, stroking his chin. LaMai looked at Iroh like he was crazy. "You know she was about my age?" LaMai asked before she walked away from him looking skeptically at Iroh as she did.
In the full moon, the kids and Appa are around a campfire in front of the water tribe boat they found on the beach. Katara and Aang are asleep, Sokka is not. He tends the fire in silence, lost in thought. A flashback begins. It is again daytime on the South Pole. The younger Sokka, his face painted for war, struggles to carry a sleeping bag and gear toward the boats. Hagoda, Katara and Sokka's father, is helping to load a boat. He sees his son and walks to him. "Sokka?" "I'm coming with you." "You're not old enough to go to war, Sokka. You know that." Sokka pleaded, verbally and with his eyes. "I'm strong! I'm brave! I can fight! Please, Dad!" Hakoda kneeled down and put a hand on Sokka's shoulder. "Being a man is knowing where you're needed the most, and for you right now that's here protecting your sister. Sokka's eyes water. "I don't understand." "Someday you will." Sokka drops his sleeping bag and hugs his father. "I'm going to miss you so much, Sokka." Sokka cries, his father's hand on his head. The flashback fades to the present. In the present, Sokka stares at the fire for another moment before hearing a sound and standing up. "Who's there?" A bandaged water tribe man approaches the camp, squints for a second, and says, "Sokka?" "Bato?" Aang woke up from the commotion. "Who the what now?" Katara wakes up from the commotion too, and almost immediately runs to hug Bato. "Sokka! Katara!" He said, smiling and hugging them both. "It is so good to see you two! Oh, you've grown so much." Aang looks on, bows, and introduces himself. "Hi. I'm Aang." Sokka and Katara start asking Bato, "Where's Dad?" "Is he here?" And Bato simply replied, "No, he and the other warriors should be in the eastern Earth Kingdom by now." The wind picks up and they all shiver. "Brr! This is no place for a reunion. Let's get inside." Bato puts his arms around Katara and Sokka's shoulder and motions Aang to follow. Aang looked dejected as he followed them. Appa followed Aang. Shortly, they were at the main gates of a monastery. Bato told Katara and Sokka as they walked, "After I was wounded, your father carried me to this abbey. The sisters have cared for me ever since." He turns to one of the nearby ladies. "Superior, these are Hakoda's children. They've been traveling with the Avatar. I found them by my boat." The Superior bowed. "Young Avatar, it gives me great joy to be in your presence. Welcome to our abbey." Aang bowed just as deeply in response. "Thank you! It's truly an honor to be here. If there's anything –" He started, but was cut off by Sokka sniffing the air and asking, "What smells so good, Bato?" "The sisters craft ointments and perfumes." "Perfume? Maybe we could dump some on Appa? Because he stinks so much! Am I right?" Sokka asked with a large grin, pointing at Appa with both his thumbs. Bato and Katara are not amused. "You have your father's wit." Bato opens a wooden door to reveal… "It looks like home!" Katara happily shouted out. "Everything's here, even the pelts!" Sokka exclaimed immediately after. The pair examine the comforts of the room. Aang holding Momo, looks a little disconcerted. "Yeh, nothing's more comforting than dead animal skins." Momo hops down and examines the head of a bear skin rug. The mouth of the bear closes suddenly, scaring Momo into climbing back up to Aang's shoulder. "Just pretend they died of old age. You guys respect animals and their bodies." Sokka said, shrugging, and petting the pelts.
In the center of the room, there's a pot. Katara opens it. "No way! Stewed sea prunes?" "Help yourself." Bato said with a small head nod. "Dad could eat a whole barrel of these things." Sokka said as he served himself up a bowl. Katara puts some in a bowl for herself and makes a bowl for Aang. He sniffs it and makes a sound of disgust. "I don't blame you, Aang. There's meat in it." Sokka said as he noticed the sound, in between bites of his own bowl. Aang sits back from the group having put the untouched bowl of stew beside him. As the conversation continues, Momo tastes the stew, spits it back out and runs away.
LaMai was put in charge of the ship until Zuko and Iroh came back. Zhang looked upset that he wasn't in charge but he was actually glad about it. LaMai was thinking of something for them to do that night since she was thinking of having a bit of fun. "I KNOW!" LaMai said out loud once she got an idea. "Know what?" Jee said bitterly. "Celebrate my birthday?" Yhu Wy asked. "You did that all day. Not even Jee was able to ruin your day with his stupid prank that got Zhang instead." Shang said, talking about the oil slicked chair. "Yeah but why not an awesome celebration." Yhu Wy said. LaMai watches the guys talk, laughing. "You know we just cut off our temporary commander." Lhy Tu said, looking up from his book. "SORRY!" Everyone but Jee said. LaMai, still laughing, waves off their apology. "It's fine, really. I honestly thought that was funny because it seemed as if you never got to give your opinions on something to do before." She said. "Well that's because we haven't." Yhu Wy said solemnly. "Well, why not throw Yhu Wy's Birthday party, then?" LaMai said, looking at TenZou since he was with them on deck. "I can make a great dinner and cake, give me about thirty minutes to an hour." TenZou said, then disappeared to the kitchens to cook. LaMai and everyone else except Jee start setting up things to have a party for Yhu Wy.
Katara asked Bato with a look of admiration, "Bato, is it true you and Dad lassoed an arctic hippo?" "It was your father's idea. He just dragged me along. Well, the hippo did the dragging." "Hey, I ride animals too! One time there was this giant eel –" Aang started, but was cut off by Sokka, asking, "So who was it that came up with the great blubber fiasco?" Bato laughed heartily at that. "You knew about that?" Katara giggled. "Everyone does." Aang looked confused. "What's the story?" Sokka sighed. "It's a long one, Aang. Some other time." Aang looks sad in the background. The others don't notice. Katara can't stop giggling as she continues. "You and Dad had so many hilarious adventures." "Not all of which were hilarious at the time, but everything's funny with hindsight." He finishes, then says, "Aang. Put that down!" Aang is wearing some kind of animal skin headdress. "It's ceremonial and very fragile." Aang puts it back on the wall and walks off dejected while the others continue. He sits down, back to the wall, near the door. Momo joins him. Sokka asks, "Was it you or Dad that put an octopus on your head and convinced Gran-Gran you were a water spirit?" Bato replied, "Your dad wore the octopus, but I…" He finished in a sinister tone, "did the spooky voice."
TenZou had fixed a bunch of finger foods. He made little sandwiches, seal sausages wrapped in biscuits, a vegetable tray, pizza rolls, homemade fries, a fruit tray, deviled eggs, tiny things that looked like pies that he called quiche, and hummus and guacamole for their corn chips. As he finished making or inventing each, he sent them out with some of the crew to the deck that was now decorated with white little flags and some tiki-like torches. LaMai was making sure no one tried to steal the food until the birthday party was in full swing. Since she sent people to go and get changed into comfier clothes. She was wearing a lilac tie shirt with capris and black shoes. Shang was the first one back out after he had changed into his casuals which was just a red shirt and black pants. Jee came out a bit later only going because of the food. Soon though everyone joined on the deck for Yhu Wy's party. The crew was laughing because Yhu Wy still couldn't drink yet though. "Come on, it is my birthday, why can't I have a drop of alcohol…" Yhu Wy pouted. Jee was glad that he could rub in being able to have alcohol in Yhu Wy's face. "Sorry but we aren't disobeying ship rules even for your birthday." LaMai said. "I know…" Yhu Wy said with a sigh then went to try the food TenZou made. Jee had just fixed his drink and he hadn't noticed that a messenger hawk that was flying by had pooped and that the poo landed in his drink. He didn't know that happened until he took a drink and then spit it back out. Zhang and Shang laughed because they both saw what happened and didn't say anything because Jee was being rude all day.
That same night, Zuko and Iroh come across a squat, three story building with many windows. It is clear that the building is packed with people. By the front door, June's shirshu can be seen. A few other patrons of the establishment can be seen. Suddenly someone gets thrown through the wall above the door, landing in the foreground and crying out painfully upon impact. Inside, June is arm wrestling a beefy man. They are in a tavern that is filled to capacity with revelers. The beefy man is sweating in his attempt to best the beautiful bounty hunter. She doesn't even appear to be trying. Suddenly, Zuko appears, forcing his way through the crowd. "Out of my way! Step aside, filth!" Iroh appears in Zuko's wake with a smile, addressing the people his nephew has just thrust aside. "He means no offense! I'm sure you bathe regularly." Zuko and Iroh reach the table where June is arm wrestling. Zuko ignores the grunting beefy man, turning to June. "I need to talk to you." "Well, if it isn't my new friends, Angry Boy and Uncle Lazy." Iroh laughs heartily for a moment before June ends the contest with one swift movement. The crowd erupts and a lot of money changes hands, much of it ending up in a big pile in front of June. "Your beast trashed my ship. You have to pay me back." June, raking in the pile of coins, says, "Aww, I'd love to help you out, but I'm a little short on money. She turns to the crowd and says, "Drinks on me!" and everyone erupts in an uproar of cheers and applause. Zuko grabs her hand as she raises her cup to her lips. "Money isn't what I had in mind." "Well, what kind of girl do you take me for?" "What kind of man do you think I am? I don't want whatever you're thinking." Zuko replied. Iroh waggled his brows. "I might." he said with a wink. Zuko sighs. "Let's talk outside."
In one of the laps outside, they stand in the light as it shines down on Katara's necklace. "I need you to find someone." "What happened? Girlfriend run off on you? Why am I not surprised?" She asked with a raised eyebrow and crossed arms. "It's not the girl I'm after. It's the bald monk she's traveling with." "Whatever you say." "If you find them, I'll consider the damage to my ship paid for." "Heh! Forget it." She turns and begins to climb into her saddle. Iroh steps forward, and says, "Plus, we'll pay your weight in gold." She smiles, gets down and walks over to Iroh. "Make it your weight and we got a deal." Iroh laughs, says, "You got it!" and motions for Zuko to give her the necklace. June grabs the necklace from Zuko and says, "Get on."
Aang is still slumped against the wall away from the others. His eyes are closed. Bato leans forward a little. "There's something I should tell you kids. I'm expecting a message from your father." "Really?" "When?" "Any day now. Your father said he'd send a message when they found the rendezvous point. If you wait here until the message arrives you can come with me and see your father again." Aang has straightened up at this and looks over at his friends, clearly worried that he might lose them. Sokka shakes in excitement. "It's been over two years since we've seen Dad! That would be so incredible. Katara?" "I do really miss him. It would be great to see Dad." The Avatar looks downcast at this, loneliness and worry on his face. He walks out of the room and shuts the door behind him. He walks over to Appa and starts airbending things off of him: supplies, the harness, the baskets full of food. He then grabs several mangoes, and two berrylemons. He gives all but one mango and one berry lemon to Appa, and pets the side of his face. "Love you, buddy." And then walks down the road away from the Abbey.
LaMai and Shang were dancing together at the party. Zhang was playing one of the drum-like instruments. Lhy Tu was laughing with Yhu Wy since they both can't drink. Jee after his bird poop drink was playing a drinking game with Fragwa. Out of those two Fragwa was the sober one. TenZou finally brought out the cake that was freshly decorated with twenty candles. Yhu Wy saw when TenZou came out. So when he saw the cake he stared at it ready to eat it. Everyone gathered around the cake with Yhu Wy being closest to the cake and they started to sing him Happy Birthday. The Drunk Jee was not singing happy birthday no one even knows what he is saying. Once the song was over Yhu Wy blew out the candles and laughed when they were relit by Lhy Tu so he just blew them out again. TenZou then took the candles out and started cutting the cake giving the first piece to Yhu Wy. "So before we eat the cakes. I just wanted to say thank you guys. This is the first birthday that I actually had fun on so really thanks." Yhu Wy said with a tear in his eye. "You're welcome, it was fun coming up with this quickly." LaMai said smiling. So another messenger hawk flew by and pooped the poop landed on Jee's piece of cake while another one landed on his head which just caused him to finally pass out. Everyone else just looked at the now passed out Jee and shrugged before they went back to having fun.
Bato sighed. "It's been far too long, hasn't it? I'm not sure when word will arrive, but when it does…" Sokka, less exuberantly, says, "It would be great, but we can't. We have to take Aang to the North Pole first." "Even if we had time to wait for the message, who knows how far we'd have to travel. We don't have time for a long detour." Katara added. Bato smiled at the kids. "I'm sure your father would understand and be proud that his children are helping the Avatar." He said with a head nod.
Aang sits huddled on the prow of Bato's boat. "I can't believe they would leave me." He looks up at the sound of a messenger approaching on some kind of bipedal lizard. "I'm looking for Bato of the Water Tribe." "Uh. I know Bato." The messenger gave Aang a scroll. "Make sure he gets this." The messenger rides off. Aang, with Momo peering over his shoulder, opens the scroll to reveal a map. "It's a map to Sokka and Katara's dad!" He crumples it in anger, stuffs it into his left sleeve, and crouches back down.
The door to Bato's room opens. Aang enters in the background, Sokka, Katara and Bato in the foreground, still sitting around the fire. "Hey everyone! Sorry I was gone so long." Katara straightened her back for a second, and looked over her shoulder. "Hey, Aang. I didn't notice you left." Aang slid down the wall, and sat back in his spot in the back, unnoticed.
At the base of the hill in the old, decrepit town square, the Herbalist is crouched near the ground harvesting some plants. Near her is her cat, Miyuki, who tenses and hisses at the sound of the shirshu approaching. The Herbalist rises and, unafraid, asks, "Out for a bit of fresh air, are we?" Zuko scowls. "We're looking for someone." "Oh. I hope it's not Miyuki." She looks down at her cat and starts talking directly to it. "Miyuki, did you get in trouble with the Fire Nation again?" The cat meows and backs away. June squints her eyes and says, "The Avatar's been through here. Let's keep moving." She cracks her whip and the shirshu takes off.
Appa is lying down munching on hay. Near a huge pile of hay, Aang airbends another load of hay in front of Appa, who takes a huge bite. The map falls out of Aang's sleeve. One of the sisters picks it up. "Ha! I caught you! You should be ashamed of yourself…" Aang looks guilty and afraid. "...littering in the courtyard. Aang takes the map back from the sister. "I'm sorry! I'll take care of this." He bows nervously and the sister walks off. He stuffs the map back under his hood.
In the woods that ends back on the beach, Bato and the kids are approaching his boat. "This ship is sentimental to me. It was built by my father." Aang looks down and sees the tracks of the messenger's beast. He airbends the entire trail away, then turns back to the others, whistling guiltily. Nobody noticed. Sokka ran his hands along the boat. "Is this the boat he took you ice dodging in?" "Yeh, it's got the scar to prove it. Huh. How about you, Sokka? You must have some good stories from your first time ice-dodging?" Sokka looked down and didn't say anything. So Katara stepped in. "He never got to go. Dad left before he was old enough." "Oh. I forgot. You were too young." Aang looked confused. "What's ice dodging?" Bato starts explaining. "It's a rite of passage for young water tribe members. When you turn fourteen your dad takes you…" He looks at Sokka who looks even more downtrodden, "... Or in this case, Uncle, takes you… ya know… Well." He stammered trying to explain. He sighs, and then puts a hand on Sokka's shoulder. "You're about to find out." Sokka smiles.
As it was now morning, LaMai was helping TenZou pick up the plates from the food last night. Shang and Zhang were taking down decorations. Lhy Tu was going to wake up the passed out Jee by kicking him because he was covered in bird poop. Yhu Wy was helping clean as well but was laughing that all the bird poop was either on Jee or around his body. With a hard enough kick from Lhy Tu, Jee shot up ready to fight, then ran to the side of the ship and threw up. "Spirits my head…" Jee said before he threw up again. "And this is why you shouldn't drink until you pass out." Zhang said to everyone that was on the deck while they were cleaning. "Wait, are you giving us fatherly advice?" Lhy Tu and Yhu Wy asked at the same time. "Yes. You both need to know this if you plan on having a family, your wife will not like you getting that drunk." Zhang said. "But you get that drunk every now and again." Lhy Tu pointed out. "Yeah you can't lecture us for something you do too." Yhu Wy said. "Yes he can, it's because he knows how it feels and he stopped drinking that much lately." Shang said, watching Jee crawl to get back inside. LaMai was coming out of the door to come back on deck and she hit Jee with the door as well as stepped on his hand. Jee cried out in pain both times. "That's what you get for drinking until you pass out. Also, after you take a shower you are cleaning up the showers and all the bird poop." LaMai said going over to Shang. Jee growled in response. "I will not." He yelled. "Fine then you can spend the rest of my time in charge in the Brig and the bird poop will stay there for you to clean when you get out. Let's see if Zuko will be as nice as I." LaMai countered with a sinister sneer. Jee just grumbled, headed in and headed to the showers. After his shower, he went to go to his bunk but because he shared his bunk area with Lhy Tu he was locked out. There was also a Note on the door that said 'Since you came here first, time to go to the brig – signed LaMai PS figured you would do this before I give any warning.' Jee growled in anger and punched the door with a flaming fist causing it to have a melted spot. One of the crewmen who saw the note sighed and chi-blocked Jee because he knew how, then dragged him to the brig. Wang looked up at the commotion coming to the brig and sighed as he opened the cell when he saw Jee being dragged in. "I honestly didn't want to see him." Wang said locking the cell when Jee was thrown in.
In Aunt Wu's village, the mighty lava flows, hardened to stone by Aang's airbending, surround the village, ominous, but harmless. People run into the main square, screaming, fleeing the shirshu and its riders. Zuko looked exasperated on the back of the shirshu and asked, "Why are we stopping?" June rolled her eyes at Zukko's tone, but answered simply, "Because the girl must have spent a lot of time here." Zuko yanks the necklace from June's hand. "We've no time for this!" He gets down and shows the shirshu the necklace again. He narrowly avoids getting zapped by its tongue. "Hey! Watch it!" Zuko yells out. Iroh laughs. June smirks and says, "Oh look. He likes you!" Aunt Wu looks up at Iroh. "Care to hear your fortune, handsome?" Iroh smiles and pats his belly. "At my age there is really only one big surprise left, and I'd just as soon leave it a mystery." "That's fin-" Aunt Wu starts, getting cut off by herself, starting a vision. "Your daughter will be your salvation." Zuko gets back on the shirshu's back, looking skeptical and confused. "Nobody but the crew knows about LaMai." Zuko whispers to Iroh while June leans forwards and whips the shirshu, who takes off once again as Aunt Wu watches, smiling softly.
Bato's boat is cutting through the waves near the shore. Treacherous rocks are visible in both the foreground and background. "Ice-dodging is a ceremonial test of wisdom, bravery and trust. In our village it was done by weaving a boat through a field of icebergs." Sokka nodded in agreement, then asked, "Wait, how are we supposed to ice-dodge with no ice?" "You will be dodging…" He points ahead, "Those!" revealing the path ahead of the boat to be a veritable thicket of stalagmite like rocks. "Sokka, you steer and call the shots. Lead wisely. Katara, you secure the mainsail. The winds can be brutal, so be brave. Aang, you control the jib, without your steady hand we all go down. Your position is about trust." Aang looked at Bato nervously and guiltily. "I know that! Why wouldn't I know that? I'm the Avatar! I know about trust." Aang pouts and folds his hands across his chest. Bato walks over to the bow and sits down. "For this to be done right, I cannot help. You pass or fail on your own." The kids take their positions, Sokka at the tiller, the other two holding on to their respective sails, all looking frightened as the ship speeds towards the rocks. Sokka's facial expression hardens. "Aang, ease up on the jib. Katara, steady! Aang, less sail!" Sokka, sweating, pulls the tiller to his right. "Katara, give him room!" The ship is weaving in and out of the rocks. "Aang! Helm to lee! Helm to lee!" "What does that even mean?" All three struggle against their loads, cut to the ship narrowly missing a huge pile of rock. "Great job!" The ship entered a cul de sac, ringed by jagged rocks, at high speed. Katara shouts out, "There's now way through!" "We can make it!" Sokka screams out. "Sokka, you've already proven yourself, maybe we should –" Bato started, but was cut off by Sokka's giving orders. "Aang, I'm gonna need air in that sail!" Aang nods. "Katara, I want you to bend as much water as you can between us and those rocks!" Sokka's determined face sets. "Now!"
Aang and Katara jump to it. Aang starts pushing wave after wave of air into the sail, while Katara raises the ship up on an accelerating wave of water. The wave carries the speeding ship safely over the ring of jagged rocks. Sokka falls back on the tiller with a sigh of relief. The others smile.
Bato's bandages hand scoops some black face paint out of a bowl. "The spirits of water bear witness to these marks. For Sokka, the mark of the wise, the same mark your father earned." He marks Sokka's head with a dot and a half circle mark above it. "For Katara, the mark of the brave. Your courage inspires us." He marks her head with a crescent shaped mark. "And for Aang, the mark of the trusted. You are now an honorary member of the water tribe." He marks Aang's forehead with a half circle mark. "I can't." Katara looks at him, "Of course you can!" Aang rubs off the mark. "No. You can't trust me!" He backs away, shaking his head, on the verge of tears. Katara takes a step closer. "Aang, what are you talking about?" Aang takes the crumpled scroll out of his hood and holds it out to Katara. "A messenger gave this to me for Bato last night." Katara looks at the scroll and draws in a breath of surprise. "You have to understand, I was afraid you'd-" Sokka stares at Aang and the map with hurt in his eyes. "This is the map to our father! You had it the whole time!? How could you?" Aang shrivels up. "Well, you can go to the North Pole on your own! I'm going to find Dad." Sokka stalks away angrily. "Now Sokka, I think you should-" Bato starters, getting cut off by Sokka. "Katara, are you with me?" She meets Aang's eyes before lowering her gaze and saying, "I'm with you, Sokka." She turns away, and Bato follows, leaving Aang alone on the beach.
Back in the Abbey, the three water tribe members put backpacks on in the main courtyard, Aang sitting on Appa in the background looking dejected. Katara walks sadly over to Aang. "Good luck." "Okay. You too." She walks out of the gate of the abbey, Bato and Sokka following. The Superior approaches Aang, who still sits on Appa. "Guess I should be moving on." "That would be best." The superior answered with no trace of malice. He shakes Appa's reins, who walks them out of the gate. Momo clings to one of Appa's horns. "I'm an idiot, Momo."
LaMai and Yhu Wy were sparing because Yhu Wy wanted to see how she fought. Lhy Tu found two two metal fans in the weapons hold and brought them out and gave them to LaMai to use. She held the fans in her hands like it was second nature to her, feeling the fans movements as her own. She started doing her usual Kyoshi warrior fan dance to warm up. Shang is staring at her in admiration and is blushing like mad. Zhang notices that and chuckles silently. LaMai takes a deep breath and opens and closes her new fans. 'They feel different, but it doesn't matter.' She thinks to herself as she smirks. Yhu Wy looks at her smirking and gets a little exasperated. "Are we going to duel or are you going to ask me to prom?" He said, snarkily, standing with his arms crossed. LaMai simply jabbed the tip of one of her fans into Yhu Wy's side, causing him to back up and collapse about ten feet away. Then she turned to address the crowd. "Never let your guard down." She said, as Yhu Wy got up and lobbed a fireball at her. Which she heard and successfully dodged, even with her back turned. "And in a proper duel, it's rude to attack when your opponent has their back turned." LaMai threw one of her fans, and it hit Yhu Wy dead center of his forehead. "It would have hit your chest if you tried to block instead of dodge." LaMai said matter-of-factly as Yhu Wy cried. He threw her fan back at her, aiming for her heart. She dodged out of the way, as graceful as a ballet dancer, and dropped her fan as she twirled out of the way. She took her fan, threw it, and jumped into the air, landing on her now flying and opened fan, using it to boost her across the gap between her and Yhu Wy, landing directly in front of him. Yhu Wy was pissed now. He lobbed fire punch after fire punch in the hopes of hitting her at least once. She dodged the first three blows, and was hit by the fourth. It caught her by the hair and singed the ends, then made contact with her shoulder, singing her skin slightly. Yhu Wy saw her shoulder and heard her squeal out in pain, revving him up for another round of attacks. Now, with her new fans about 10 feet away from them on either side of them, she had to resort to hand to hand combat. Yhu Wy thought he had the advantage because he took away her fans. Yhu Wy started kicking as well as punching, anything to land a blow, but LaMai did the same. They went back and forth, exchanging blows almost equally. LaMai had been hit square in the jaw, and kicked in the hip, slowing her kicks down. Yhu Wy had been scratched in the face, presumably by LaMai's nails, and punched in the gut, making him double over. But on he still fought. When Yhu Wy tired himself out, she took his arm, bent in half, and threw him over her shoulder. "Everything you use is an extension of yourself. But don't rely on only your weapons. And you should always be confident in yourself. But not cocky. Cockiness leads to failure." She said, spitting out blood at the end of her speech, as she sat on Yhu Wy's back as he lay, sprawled out on the floor. Everyone clapped, whooping and cheering, and Shang smiled so hard he started crying, yelling out, "That's my girl!" And making LaMai blush. After getting up and off of Yhu Wy, LaMai offered her hand, both to help him up and to say, "Good game." and shake his hand. After their shake, she said, "It's probably best if we shower or something, cuz there's blood all over us now." "And your shoulder is burnt. I'm sorry about that. Forgot you were a non-bender." "I see. I thank you for not using your bending when we were in close combat." "If I won that way, I wouldn't be happy with myself. You won fairly." He said, picking up the fan that he was closest to and handing it to her. "Thank you." She said gingerly, as she took her new fan from him. Shang handed her the other, and her hand lingered just a moment longer as she looked up at him and said, "Thank you."
Back in the Abbey, a group of sisters making perfume. The approach of the shirshu can be heard. The gate bursts open, revealing the shirshu and its riders. Katara's smell can be seen all over the courtyard. "We're getting close." June said, matter-of-factly. June whips the shirshu again and it bounds out of the gate and up the road the Katara, Sokka and Bato used.
The three continue walking through the walks along that same road. In the distance, a wolf can be heard. They stop to listen. "That wolf sounds so sad." Katara said. "It's probably wounded." Sokka said matter-of-factly. "No." Bato started. "It's been separated from the pack. I understand that pain. It's how I felt when the water tribe warriors had to leave me behind. They were my family and being apart from them was more painful than my wounds." Sokka looked pained and sad for a moment as he thought back. A flashback begins of him on the South Pole once again, this time watching his father's fleet depart into the mist. The flashback ends, revealing Sokka looking down at the ground, Katara and Bato behind him. "Sokka?" He paused before answering his sister's call for him. "We need to go back. I want to see Dad, but helping Aang is where we're needed the most." Katara smiled, "You're right." And Bato put a hand on each of their shoulders. "Your father will understand. And I know he's proud of you." "Thanks, Bato." the kids said, with tears welling in their eyes. "I know where to go from here." He gives Sokka the map. "Take this in case you want to find us. I'll leave a message at the rendezvous point."
Appa, Aang and Momo are on the beach near Bato's boat. "Looks like we're going alone, guys." The Superior rushes up to him. "Avatar! You must leave!" "Okay, I get it. Everybody wants me gone." "A group of people came to the abbey looking for you. You aren't safe here." Aang jumps off Appa and asks her, alarm taking over his face. "Who?" "A fierce looking woman with a horrible monster and a young man with a scar." "Zuko!" "The beast was using the scent of a necklace to follow you." "A necklace?" Eyes suddenly going wide, "Huh! Katara!"
Sokka motions for his sister to stop as a galloping sound is heard. The shirshu jumps behind them and they run, the monster and its riders in pursuit. It can see Katara's scent all over the place. It focuses on her and it sees her completely colored the purple of her own scent. June smirks. "So this is your girlfriend." Zuko hops off the shirshu and approaches Katara. "No wonder she left. She's way too pretty for you." This makes Katara blush a bit. "Where is he?" Zuko yelled in her face, making her stop blushing. "Where's the Avatar?" Sokka answered, defiantly. "We split up. He's long gone." Zuko narrows his eyes. "How stupid do you think I am?" "Pretty stupid." Sokka said, as he grabbed Katara's arm and told her, "RUN!" They run, but the shirshu paralyzes them both with its tongue before they get very far. "What are we supposed to do now?" Zuko asked, stamping his foot, furious. June cocked her head. "It's seeking a different scent – perhaps something that the Avatar held." The shirshu moves forward and starts sniffing the paralyzed pair. The map scroll falls out of Sokka's backpack and rolls onto the ground. The shirshu smells the scroll, covered in a blue scent. The trail leads back into the woods. The courtyard of the abbey has a hastily repaired gate. This is blown open again as the monster and its riders bust through again, sending sisters running away screaming in all directions. The shirshu begins walking around, sniffing. "What's it doing?" Zuko asked. "It's just going around in a circle!" The monster follows the blue scent around. Finally it looks up into the air to see the scent spiraling around. Aang flies up to the monster, which jumps up to snap at him. He misses, but does manage to dump his riders onto the floor of the courtyard. The shirshu also falls flat on his back. Katara, getting thrown off, looked the happiest, smiling, and yelling out, "Aang!"
June gets up and whips the ground. The shirshu gets up and roars, June jumping onto its back. They charge after Aang. Right before impact, Appa comes from the right and plows into the shirshu, pushing him and his rider. They plow into the wall of a building, knocking a hole through it. Appa, with a grin, grunts in satisfaction. Aang, whose smile turns to alarm as he turns away from Appa to face Zuko, whose hands are alight with fire as he advances on the Avatar. He fires a huge gout of flame at Aang, who blocks it by twirling his staff to break it up. They trade several rounds of blows, all of which miss or are blocked. Finally the two fire volleys simultaneously and both are blown backwards onto the roofs behind them. June is next to the shirshu, both unconscious. Iroh rushes up to the bounty hunter and pats the side of her face. She wakes up, rises to her feet. She cracks her whips and says something unintelligible. Then shirshu rises to its feet, she jumps in the saddle and they head back into battle. They charge Appa who is on the other side of the courtyard. Appa soars into the air as they reach him, but the shirshu lashes Appa's tail with his tongue. Appa lands on the other side of the courtyard. He struggles to stay standing, but fails. He collapses in a cloud of dust. He gets to his feet. The monsters charge each other after June whips the shirsu again, and they have a head on collision, throwing June over Appa's head, whom she whips as she passes. She lands on the ground and rolls away just as Appa's foot plants itself deep into the ground where she had just been. Aang gets up groggily from where he'd fallen on the roof, eyes wide as Zuko charges him, down the spine of the roof. He throws a blast of fire at the Avatar who flips over Zuko's head to land behind him. They exchange blows with Aang eventually knocking Zuko off the roof. He is instantly replaced, however, when June and the shirshu jump onto the roof and pursue him. Appa turns down in the courtyard and uses his tail to create a gale that blows tiles off the roof as the shirshu passes. Sokka and Katara are leaning up against the wall of the abbey. Sokka is wiggling his arm a bit. "I'm starting to get some feeling back!" A bunch of tiles fall on them. "Ow!"
LaMai had gone to the private bathroom that was by the suites. She started herself a nice, hot bath, hoping that would get rid of the burnt hair smell and burnt skin smell. She saw a shelf that had scented oils. "Let's see what they have." She said aloud, humming to herself as she looked. "There's lavender oil, tea tree oil, lemon oil, orange oil, and rosemary oil." She read aloud. "Well, I guess I can spoil myself. This is the first relaxing bath I've had in months. Back in the brig…" She shuddered, pouring a little of each bottle into her bathwater, not wanting to think of her time in the brig, or the showers she took, not as often as she'd like, either. She furrowed her brows. "Now is about relaxing." She said, as she stirred the water with her hand, decided it was perfect, and got in. "Aaaahhhh…" She sighed, smelling the air around her and relaxing already. As she sunk into her water slowly, she could hear the men on the lower floor, clamoring for rest or a shower. 'Men are so loud' she thought to herself. 'Except one.' she added as she blushed, sinking further into her bathwater.
Downstairs, Yhu Wy is the first to make it to the communal showers, the showers that Jee used and never cleaned. "Ugh! This grown ass CHILD!" He screamed out, upset at the mess Jee left. "How could you… It's like you were raised in a barn… And they make fun of ME for not having parents?... At least I know how to clean up after myself…" Yhu Wy started complaining, throwing his arms around as he did, feeling his anger. Without realizing it, he set fire to the bits of bird poop that was on the floor of the showers. "Oh, shnikeys!" He said, as he smelled the atrocity he just started. He starts stamping out the small fires. Moments later, a few other crewmen walk into the showers. One sees Yhu Wy's face over the shower sectionals, and says, "Wow. Smells like DEFEAT in here!" With a malicious sneer across his face. "Actually, defeat smells kinda like burning bird poop!" one of the other men said loudly after sniffing the air to be dramatic.
Upstairs, LaMai hears a man shout out, "burning bird poop!" This makes her push her knees up to her chest and cross her arms over her knees, saddened. "Why wouldn't Jee listen to me? Everyone else did. Drunk or not, that's no way to behave. Especially to the ship commander. Am I doing it wrong?" She talks to herself, wondering why Jee wouldn't listen, and comes to an understanding of why people hate Jee. "Honestly, I don't think that's the first time he's said 'screw my orders, I'm doing what I want.' Not with that attitude anyways. I think he's not used to listening to people younger than him, or smaller, or more feminine." She said with a sigh, dropping her arms into the water, and letting the warmth wash over her again. "I guess that explains why he and Zuko are always butting heads. Well, everyone and him are always butting heads. Hmm…" And she sunk back into the water, coating all of her long hair, but keeping her face out of the water.
Iroh ignores the fighting going on at the abbey and is testing out perfumes nearby. He finds one he likes, looks from side to side to make sure no one is looking and then tucks the bottle into his robe, a mischievous smile on his face. Aang and Zuko duel once again, this time a covered well is between them. They trade volleys. Aang suddenly sees Katara's necklace in Zuko's hand. "You've got something I want!" Aang shouts. They trade volleys again with Zuko soon destroying the well's covering. They dance around on the lip of the well, neither one able to gain decisive advantage over the other. Aang keeps trying to grab the necklace, but fails. Then Zuko lunges after Aang and misses. As he passes, Aang puts his foot through the loop of the necklace, catching it. He then disappears down the well, with Zuko firing a huge gout of flame after him in frustration. Zuko is launched into the air as Aang reappears atop a huge jet of water and lands in the courtyard. Rain from the huge jet of water begins to fall around him, quickly followed by Zuko hitting the ground.
Zuko gets up and the duel begins anew, but this time Appa advances threateningly on Zuko. Before Appa can strike him, however, the shirshu lashes him three times in a row with his tongue. Appa tries to stay up, but can't. He keels over, paralyzed. Over by Sokka and Katara, the Superior puts some kind of perfume under their noses and they are then able to move better. Sokka gets up, and says, "That thing sees with its nose. Let's give him something to look at." The Superior nods, "The perfume?" Sokka nods in response. Aang dodges Zuko's fire blasts and the shirshu's tongue on the opposite wall. Pairs of sisters and Sokka move huge white pots of perfume out into the courtyard. Katara waterbends the perfume into a huge sheet, moves it over the shirshu, and drops it. The monster shakes off the liquid, but it's now terribly confused. Zuko gets tongue lashed by the monster, followed by June. Iroh screams out. "June! Noooo!" Iroh catches the falling bounty hunter. The rampaging shirshu breaks open a few more jars, paws the tiles of the roof of one of the buildings, then jumps over the wall and disappears. Aang picks up his staff. Katara and Sokka approach him from behind. Zuko and Iroh lay flat on the ground. Iroh has June draped across his chest, his arm around her. "Uncle? I didn't see you get hit with the tongue." To which Iroh shhhhhh's him. June's eyes open, clearly displeased.
Appa is flying through the sky at sunset. "So where do we go now?" Aang asked. To which Katara offhandedly said, "We're getting you to the North Pole." As she dug through a basket looking for food. "Yeah. We've lost too much time as it is." Sokka said, followed by, "Get me some jerky, Katara." "Don't you want to see your father?" "Of course we do, Aang. But, you're our family too. And right now, you need us more." "And we need you." Katara said, producing a handful of jerky for her and Sokka, and two papayas for Aang. "I wish I could give you a little piece of home, Katara. Something to remind you –" "I'll be ok." "Still, just a little trinket. Maybe something like...this!" Aang jumps up, proudly offering Katara her necklace, a huge smile on his face. Katara takes off the necklace Aang made her, looks at it fondly, and then happily puts on her necklace. She felt the choker and thought for a second. "How did you get this?" She asked, rummaging in her bag to put the necklace Aang made her away safely and to get out the dainty silver necklace and put it on. It dangled far down enough that it didn't mess with her necklace. Aang smiled. "Zuko asked to be sure I got it to you." Katara, in mock appreciation said, "Oh, that's so sweet of Zuko. Would you give him a kiss for me when you see him?" "Sure!" Katara kisses Aang's cheek. He blushes and twiddles his thumbs.
Zhang was on deck with Lhy Tu when Zuko and Iroh came back. They both got the horrible scent of all the perfume mixed together. "Who went to a brothel?" Zhang asked, covering his nose. Lhy Tu just ended up coughing as he covered his nose. Zuko growled under his breath because all he wanted to do was go and get that scent off of him. Iroh chuckled sadly and then told them what happened. Zhang and Lhy Tu both started laughing, which sounded weird since they had their noses covered. Zuko looked and saw that there was bird poop on the deck. "What is with the bird poop in one spot?" He asked. "Oh, Jee passed out there last night, because he got super drunk while we gave Yhu Wy his birthday party since LaMai wanted to do something fun. We all gave suggestions and Yhu Wy suggested a birthday party." Lhy Tu started. "So we got his birthday party started and Jee was playing a drinking game with Fragwa who stayed sober that whole game because Jee is a terrible shot. When it came time for cake, Yhu Wy gave a speech about how that was the best birthday he ever had. Well, then a bird pooped in Jee's drink and his cake. When the bird pooped on Jee, is when he passed out from how drunk he was. We all left him there and continued on with the party." Zhang took over. "When we got up in the morning, everyone was assigned to a cleaning duty or waking sleeping party-goers up. I unfortunately had to wake up the bird poop covered Jee so I kicked him. Then Jee went and threw up over the side of the ship. We got lectured by Zhang about what not to do when drinking. Jee then crawled to go in the ship. LaMai hit him with the door and then stepped on his hand. She then told him after his shower that he would clean the showers and the deck from the bird poop. He refused; he is now in the brig." Lhy Tu finished, ticking off the important parts of his story with his fingers. "Okay but where is LaMai?" Zuko asked. "Probably taking a bath. Her and Yhu Wy had a spar because he wanted to see her fighting style. Also just a warning if you smell burnt hair that is because Yhu Wy caught her hair on fire at the ends a bit. No one was seriously hurt either. Just a little bitty burn mark on her shoulder. But then she…" Zhang said. "Well, I found metal fans in the weapons hold. She has them now. And she's pretty badass." Lhy Tu added. "Okay," Zuko said before going straight to the brig. Iroh had gone to the suites to get fresh clothes from his room so that he could take them with him when he went to take his bath once LaMai got out.
Wang was able to smell someone coming before he saw who it was. "Sir, I think you might want to take a shower. No disrespect!" Wang said as Zuko came in. "I know but first I am going to take care of a little disrespect." Zuko said glaring at Jee. Jee gulped, but made no sounds or movements in his cell. Zuko walked up to Jee's cell, and started to ask Wang for the keys to Jee's cell. But stopped short, just outside of Jee's cell. "I need some answers first. And if you don't answer, or don't answer respectfully, then you can kiss your life goodbye." Zuko said, lowering himself to talk to Jee through the bars of his cell at his height. "One. Why didn't you listen to LaMai?" "Like any woman can control me?" Jee scoffed. "That explains why you've never had a girlfriend." Wang said. Jee growled at this, and Zuko simply shot a small fireball into Jee's cell, catching his shoe on fire. "Knock off the crap!" Zuko said, as Jee tried to stamp out his shoe while still wearing it. "Fine. So you're a sexist asshole. That'll change if I have my way. Two. Why didn't you clean up your own mess like a grown man?" "Because she told me to." "She shouldn't have to tell you to!" Zuko yelled, accidentally breathing a small fireball at Jee. Zuko and Wang both sniffed the air after Zuko's fireball. "Oh Spirits, dude." Both Wang and Zuko said. "Yea, your breath is kickin." Jee said, trying to laugh his terror off. "That is not why we said that, Jee…" Wang countered, narrowing his eyes at Jee. "AAAARRRRRRRGGGGGGHHHHH!" Zuko yelled, frustrated. "I swear. You'll get your butt up there and clean every inch of this ship, or so help me Spirits, you'll be a spirit." He growled out, contorting his face sinisterly. "You have until I get out of my shower. Then I'll deal with you as I see fit." He straightened up and told Wang to get Jee's cell keys and unlock him, and since he was the only one in the brig, to watch over him as he was cleaning. "If he stops, bring him straight back down here. And if he tries to escape, kill em. Got that?" Wang gulped, but rang out strongly, "Sir, yes, sir!"
As Zuko walked down the hallway, he asked himself, "How'd I do that? Maybe Uncle will know something."